ACraftIndependent states
Orteke
A wooden goat puppet made to dance to the dombra — an ancient Kazakh folk performing art. UNESCO heritage since 2022.
Orteke is a small wooden puppet of a mountain goat, fixed to a drum or board and tied by strings to the performer's fingers. As the musician plays the dombra, the puppet leaps and dances in time.
A performance usually combines one artist's music, singing and the puppet's "dance"; it was a favourite entertainment of children and adults at nomadic weddings and festivities.
"Orteke, traditional performing art in Kazakhstan: dance, puppet and music" was inscribed on UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2022.
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Updated: October 2, 2026